The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1887-09-08
VICTIMS OF FIRE.
Over One Hundred and Forty
BIZ People Burned to Death. g..
MANY OTHERS WOUNDED.
THE AWFUL SCENES OF DEATH IN
AN ENGLISH THEATER.

A Fire Breaks Out in the Theater Royal
at Exeter, England, During Perform
hnOe, and the Play House was Soon
Turned into Funeral Pyrs.
LONDON, Sept. THE new Theater Royal,
at Exeter, Devon, burned last night dur ing
the production of ''Romany Rye" Near the
end of the third act fire shot out from the
flies and the rush began. The actors and
employees ran out Of the stage entrance and
escaped, while the audience crowded and
jammed towards the regular exit. Those
who had occupied seats on the lower floor
escaped, although many were crushed at
the doors, which as usual were 10 cked and
had to be forced from their hinges.
The theater was soon a mass Of flames
water having but little effect on it. In the
gallery and balcony fearful panic ensued,
and some jumped from the windows 1t was
impossible to check them.
When an entrance from the outside had
been effected the sight on the gallery stairs
was fearful. Masses Of burned corpses lay
here and there, and l3O bodies were taken
out. Many of the injured died soon after,
and men and women were running about
the streets hunting their lost ones all night.
The remains for the most part were so badly
burned that Identification was impossible.
The clothes were burned Off and the flesh
literally roasted.
A stall occupant thus describes the scene
The scene following the discovery of the fire
was awful. Men implored the audience to
be- cool and tried to check the frantic rush,
but to little purpose Women were fainting
and wringing their hands Some husbands
carried out their wives and children scream
ing, everybody rushing to the nearest exit.
Short as was the time, those who escaped
into the corridor leading into the vestibule
found it filed with dense smoke, and escaped
in half suffocated condition. In few
minutes the hose, always kept in readiness,
was pumping water on the stage from the
dress circle, but this had no effect. Within
five minutes Of the outbreak the city fire
brigade were on the spot, but the water
then poured on the fire was absolutely with
ont effect.
There are lG6 bodies lying in tho London
Inn square awaiting Identification. They
are all frightfully burned chiefly about the
head and hands, The majority Of them are
men and boys although thirty women were
counted on the stretchers as they passed,
who were apparently for the most part oc-
cupants of the gallery. A heap of bodies
still remained in the higher gallery stair
h. drsk ota haf he Gra
destroyed that part Of the building.
Unfortunately, as was the case with the
Paris theater, the escape doors in one street
were fastened The people behind them
yelled madly and thI ew their whole weight
against the doors until they were wrenched
Off their hinges. The bodies present sick
ening aspect. Upon going little higher up
the stairs more bodies were discovered.
These were laid in rows in an adjoining
room for Identification, and those who
showed signs OF life were conveyed on
Itretchers to the hospital. All the medical
men in the city were on the spot, rendering
what assistance they could. The sheriff
states that he has counted 100 dead bodies
The scenes in the streets and where the
bodies are lying is pitiful, Women are
looking for missing husbands, and husbands
Tor wives anu uauShOeISi anu mobheTS AOr
their sons.
The victims were mostly working people
who had occupied seats in the fatal gallery.
In many cases fathers and mothers both per-
ished and the number made orphans by the
terrible holocaust is exceptionally large.
Several bodies have been burned to nothing
but small cinder, making Identification
impossible. Sixty of those who were taken
to the hospital are seriously injured, and
many of them will probably die. A num-
ber of them give no sign of recovery. The
number of deaths is mounting upwards, and
it is feared now that it will reach 40 at the
lowest estimate.
A telegram from Exeter at 5 o'clock this
morning says that the fire is under control.
Only the walls of the structure are standing.
People distracted with anxiety are wander
ing about the streets in the neighborhood Of
the theater in search of missing friends.
The hospitals are beseiged by anxious in
quiries for friends. Twenty badly burned
persons, who were admitted to hospitals,
died few moments after they were re-
ceived.